It's Personal

We live in a world of convenience.

People will do anything to speed up a process in order for it not to disrupt or off rail their schedules or comfort.

Unfortunately- this is often the mind set that many believers have in serving others.

I am so burdened for the church.

I do not speak of all- but I speak of many who are not willing to let ministry mingle with their schedules, banks accounts or bucket lists.

I have seen these tendencies in my own life.

The Lord is reminding me- over and over again- that serving Him fully will fully effect my life in all areas.

O- that I would let the Lord use me.
To disrupt my schedule to do His will.

To rip me out of my comfort zone and heave me into the mess.

I can only think of Jesus.

Son of God. King of Kings.
Came to earth to live and die so that we may have life.


Speaking of coming into a mess.

I have been spending a lot of time reading & studying Tim Keller's book called "Ministries of Mercy". It often refers to the parable of the good samaritan.

Have we not all read this parable a few dozen times?
Colored pictures of the man on the road in Sunday School for ages?
Told this story ourselves in vacation bible school to children?

Well- Let me refresh your memory like I have had mine refreshed.
It struck me and I have not gotten over it.


Luke 10:30-37 says

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”



Ring a bell? Yes, the story we have heard our whole lives.

But Tim Keller puts in in perspective when he says in "Ministries of Mercy" (page 11)


"Our paradigm is the Samaritan who:

Risked His safety

Destroyed His Schedule and

Became Bloody an Dirty through personal involvement with a needy person..."



Wow.

Are we ready?

Are we willing?

Are we obeying the command to love our neighbor as we love ourselves?

Are we ready to meet the needs of others as eagerly as we are to meet our own?



Jesus is clear in His command-

See the Samaritan and the mercy he showed?

GO- and do likewise.




My prayer today is that we strive for a heart like the man on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. That we allow the Lord to disrupt our schedules and break our comfort so that we may act as Christ in the lives of others.

Ministry is not convenient. Ministry is not safe or clean or pretty.

Ministry is personal. costly. involved.


Brothers and Sisters- Let us let the Lord use us for His good.


Many Blessings-



“Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”
― Corrie Ten Boom